By Haywood S.B. No. 207
75R1032 MLS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the distribution of exemplary damages in certain civil
1-3 suits.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 41.012, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
1-6 is amended to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 41.012. JURY INSTRUCTIONS. In a trial to a jury, the
1-8 court shall instruct the jury with regard to Sections 41.001,
1-9 41.003, 41.010, [and] 41.011, and 41.014.
1-10 SECTION 2. Chapter 41, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
1-11 amended by adding Section 41.014 to read as follows:
1-12 Sec. 41.014. PAYMENT OF AWARD TO GENERAL REVENUE FUND. The
1-13 court shall order an award of exemplary damages be paid to the
1-14 comptroller for deposit in the general revenue fund.
1-15 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
1-16 applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after that
1-17 date. An action that accrues before the effective date of this Act
1-18 is governed by the law applicable to the action immediately before
1-19 the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect
1-20 for that purpose.
1-21 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.